Rio Rancho Cleveland High Senior Faith Young Chosen for U.S. Senate Program

Faith Young, a senior at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, was selected on January 19, 2026, to attend the U.S. Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C., March 7–14. The national program brings 104 student delegates - two from each state and territory - to hear from senators and other federal officials and to participate in intensive civic education.

Young’s selection places a Cleveland High student on a national stage and gives Sandoval County a direct line to federal civic programming. The program’s format, which pairs classroom-style briefings with meetings of sitting senators and appointed officials, is designed to deepen young people’s understanding of federal government processes. For a community focused on strengthening civic knowledge and voter engagement, having a local delegate can sharpen attention on how federal institutions operate and how local voices connect to national policymaking.

The U.S. Senate Youth Program includes formal briefings, panels and networking opportunities intended to inform participants about legislative procedures, executive branch functions, and career pathways in public service. For New Mexico representation, Faith Young will join one other state delegate among the 104 students, offering a peer-to-peer exchange that can amplify the perspective of Rio Rancho youth in conversations about governance and civic responsibility.

Cleveland High School and Rio Rancho public officials have emphasized the honor of the selection as a point of community pride. Beyond ceremonial recognition, the selection could have practical implications for local civic education efforts. Students who participate in programs of this kind often return with greater familiarity with congressional processes and enhanced motivation to engage in local civic institutions - a dynamic that can influence future voter turnout and youth participation in community boards, school councils, and local campaigns.

The selection also highlights institutional relationships between local education systems and national civic programs. Investment in civics coursework, extracurricular debate and student government can increase students’ visibility for selective programs that require demonstrated interest in public affairs. For Sandoval County policymakers and school leaders, Faith Young’s participation offers an opportunity to evaluate how well local schools prepare students to take advantage of federal and national enrichment opportunities.

Faith Young will travel to Washington, D.C., March 7–14 to participate in the program. Her week in the capital will be a moment for Rio Rancho to observe the practical results of civic education and to consider how local institutions can sustain pathways to public service for future students.